Holidays to Lisbon Region

Throughout the city, buildings of the distinctive Manueline style – a local form of late Gothic – and the dazzling azulejos that are to be seen even in the darkest places, are integral to Lisbon’s special character. The National Azulejo Museum in the 15th century Madre de Deus Convent makes a fascinating visit, rivaled by the more modern Gulbenkian.

In times past it was to the hills and coast west of Lisbon that royalty and the European aristocracy retreated for their long summer holidays and to escape political turbulence. At Estoril, the largest casino in Europe is still in operation, though its clients no longer tend to be deposed kings or even stranded spies, like Ian Fleming. It is more likely that the main attractions are the area’s soft sandy beaches and fine fish restaurants that stretch between Estoril and the beach resort of Cascais.Windsurfers and kitesurfers thrive on the northern winds that  race across the more remote beaches at Guincho.

Dominant on a hill, the elegant town of Sintra is home to 5 palaces and a castle, including the exotic Pena National Palace with its flamboyant pastiche of the medieval and Moorish, extraordinary painted rooms and stunningly tiled chapel. The town still possesses an air of old-fashioned, high-styleromance and splendour, as befits the preferred choice of devotees of hedonism like Lord Byron.

The surrounding area – the Serra de Sinta,described by the Romans as lunaemons(mountains of the moon)– is ideal walking country, taking in a green and fertile landscape that leads to the Atlantic shore. Splendid views that capture unvisited sandy beaches culminate at Cabo de Roca, known as the place “where land ends and the sea begins.” A hundred metres above the crashing waves of the Atlantic, it does indeed feel as if you stand at the brink of the known world. There is something unique about the might of the Atlantic that both challenges and intimidates – feelings that can connect even the modern traveller to those early Portugese adventurers.

South of Lisbon, across the Tagus River, it is as if the city and its bustle have instantly evaporated: this is another world. Natural beauty dominates; the atmosphere is calm, quiet and reflective. Between Setubal and Sesimbralies Arribada natural park, a region of undulating hills, green mountains, pines, cypresses, small coves, empty roads, a few villages and deserted white sand beaches. In the Sado river estuary bottle-nose dolphins can regularly be seen.

As so often in Portugal, a small area can offer so many different experiences. Lisbon alone can fill the senses to the point of confusion, but there is calmness, too, and tranquility, in the hills around Sintra or the endless beaches on the Troia peninsular. Just a short visit can feel like an epic.